[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6146924,"mediaKeyId","5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f","parentId",5523455,"title","CWLP seeks council verification to enter MISO expedited queue for 125 MW solar project","audioSeconds",576,"startMs",261461,"endMs",838460,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f&start=261&end=838","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f/thumbnail_261461.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6146924/Springfield/Sangamon-County/Illinois/CWLP-seeks-council-verification-to-enter-MISO-expedited-queue-for-125-MW-solar-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146924-978e9b304ab7818eb368ef4f4b7d2a2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812422&Signature=fEZ5uHuAxdlYCc1rZlXhtwnKFKFDxK9Mgamvb1rFK3eR41Sxn5HFXczNEymk5KWBe5lMHoSXHraOwJ9c08gKPgxKV2amcM7AvScWdXvnTdvbM4rRibMcnQ06sKnJ7ZqdXfMZNw42E3EBUb21TpxwSqO5dmkWlcGYNramNgnN8gAUjIksBj2UucLoKDbQmA0wj8h7yoaHBxF4gOtLiPuZ1~jcfTXfP--wRpLL2Evxit2nzdWlss3Xd7~~poUyO6--Mkcl8YxPttIh~PjMWBu~8~qu750vjsiXFhZRN7-kWF-b43H9KZnSb3qkmu9pIUFcG7YDqDrTA3dlQHqeOMq8mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Springfield, IL","date","2025-07-30T21:52:03Z","article","The Committee of the Whole unanimously approved, on consent, a resolution confirming capacity needs for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) so CWLP can enter an expedited generator interconnection process for a proposed 125‑megawatt solar project.

Sun20, the project's lead developer, and its engineering vice president outlined the proposal and timing to the committee. Melissa Seymour, vice president of external affairs for Sun20, told the council the MISO expedited study (ARES) is unusually fast and requires a verification from the city-level body that oversees the utility: “So that's why we're coming to you, and that's why you have a resolution and potentially an ordinance coming in front of you to get approval for this because it has to be submitted with the application process that we're going to go through.”

Nut graf: The verification and amended resolution approved by the committee let CWLP include the city in Sun20’s MISO ARES submission, a short‑window program that will accept only a limited number of projects in its first tranche. Officials said acting in the coming days would preserve federal tax‑credit eligibility and a faster interconnection timetable that Sun20 said could cut multi‑year queue times to roughly three months if a project qualifies.

Sun20 described the project as a roughly 125‑megawatt solar facility sited on about 1,200 acres that would connect into CWLP’s Palomino substation near Illinois Route 97. Jimmy Balow, Sun20’s vice president of engineering, said the site is “a very highly buildable site” and gave the city a target in‑service window: the company aims to bring the project online by December 2028 to meet tax‑credit timing and the developer's interconnection schedule.

Council members asked about cost and timing. Alderman Donlon asked about the amendment on the desk and whether the city was being asked to commit $49,000; a CWLP representative, Mr. Brown, confirmed the total application/ARRS process fee was $100,000, with Sun20 providing the remainder and the city committing the $49,000 portion. Brown characterized the city’s share as an unusually small price for securing the project’s accredited capacity: the city would receive the full accredited capacity of the 125 MW facility under the proposed contract terms.

Developers and staff emphasized the narrow ARES window. Seymour said MISO’s expedited resource addition study will consider only 10 projects in the first cycle beginning August 6 and that projects must show readiness and the city verification to qualify. Seymour also cited recent federal tax‑credit timing (referred to in the presentation as the “1 big beautiful bill”) and related administration rules as additional reasons to move quickly.

The committee approval placed the resolution on the consent agenda as amended; council members voted aye and the item passed. Staff said permitting with Sangamon County (zoning and county permits) would follow separately and the ARES submission did not require county permitting prior to the verification.

Ending: CWLP staff and the developer said they will proceed to file the ARES application when the window opens in early August and keep the council briefed on subsequent ordinance or contract approvals that will come back for formal city action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of Whole Meeting Tuesday July 29 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Committee of the Whole unanimously approved, on consent, a resolution verifying the city’s capacity needs so CWLP and developer Sun20 can submit an application to MISO’s expedited interconnection process for a proposed 125‑megawatt solar project.","taxTitle","Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois","taxId",2651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6146916,"Council approves cannabis‑tax allocations; staff outlines outreach for businesses that missed awards",90,2578150,2668710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f&start=2578&end=2668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f/thumbnail_2578150.jpg","/articles/6146916/Springfield/Sangamon-County/Illinois/Council-approves-cannabistax-allocations-staff-outlines-outreach-for-businesses-that-missed-awards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146916-2491c7a5fb8b26c00e91f5a61c7d39d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812422&Signature=ag2k3aI4Bb7LK8GFRP1-7nnrAi0yqr9ucpL-EaFgOtwcRlBW07V-yyFeiII~w3AL~osrsGW49S94wdmVCcVD9Pqp6rQ5fEfknM0yrngAfFr7v58tjAWRMSV4m9uP4BpGEGAJtkV-eymBenkTuz1oXnHUpDwwNymnfpfanH9UGe3TjCtS6SUI1yyxSddtLY9vT6qVxZhhxh-FPqvLnTolpC~4005SkM38BAJzX3QcS34-tiilh9X24Z6X4DBfTiUli5SMJElGIyaov89cw8vG0bDkhkWm0IlC-6sGRvs2K7UzH~OD7tDTM~0b49Ks-XjkRnO38t-JoPs0AmnT2k1VFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee of the Whole approved two related items on consent allocating cannabis tax revenue for housing rehab and small‑business redevelopment and heard staff describe efforts to assist applicants who were not awarded funds in the latest round.

An ordinance authorized expenditure of cannabis tax proceeds and appropriated up to $165,073 for exterior repair assistance (described in discussion as part of an interior/exterior rehabilitation program) for the Office of Planning and Economic Development. The committee then approved a separate order allocating up to $406,000 for small business redevelopment assistance from the same funding source.

Nut graf: Staff described the cannabis tax grants as an ongoing, annual program and said the latest funding round was the third round of awards. Officials emphasized outreach and capacity‑building for businesses and homeowners who did not receive awards, including one‑on‑one technical assistance, connections to other programs (such as the small business institute and community partners) and future application support.

Office of Planning and Economic Development staff said they will contact applicants who were not funded and offer alternatives and technical help in future rounds; Julia Griffin (staff) said the program will keep a running list of applicants and work with other departments and community partners to prepare applicants for future cycles. Director Posey and Alderman Gregory emphasized plans to tailor training and create a minority business institute and a small business symposium to address common application shortcomings.

Several aldermen urged more targeted outreach in wards with high need and to match unsuccessful applicants to other resources and training. Staff noted that the program received some applications from outside the designated cannabis zone, that the program history includes three rounds of awards and that officials plan additional community engagement and ‘storytelling’ about past recipients to encourage future applicants.

Both items were placed on consent and passed; aldermen voted aye and the items moved forward.

Ending: Staff said they will contact unfunded applicants, refine outreach and training, and coordinate with community relations and other departments to improve equity of outreach and applicant readiness for future funding rounds.","The committee approved two items allocating cannabis tax funds for homeowner exterior repair assistance and small‑business redevelopment grants. Staff described outreach to applicants who were not funded this round and plans for a minority business institute and continued technical assistance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6146920,"Council designates 541 East Black Ave historic; developer plans extended‑stay units for nurses",212,2080960,2293240,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f&start=2080&end=2293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5523455-e895c2819adbce44f7cd92c561b54c4f/thumbnail_2080960.jpg","/articles/6146920/Springfield/Sangamon-County/Illinois/Council-designates-541-East-Black-Ave-historic-developer-plans-extendedstay-units-for-nurses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146920-7e14952f690ac8fbc03f6065db53fc14/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812422&Signature=O-nR6Qne0jLIkxIEHlXiOLQHGTT11f3CjWAzpNDzrTtbDv1m3NDxqrnZJEXggo8gVbqAkHD5pVNZ1AMdPKRw0PlwBKYSLZHo5nphiypts1HshBAWZgxeKEAaO1aJCAMiAZLA11ld0Mgo6LKokhV5lS2yaWtDBIsoaQ64pVEEAyG~CHVYOfS6IG1TE8281TA0ipLzt7EFvb9Ro4se0ZUZDKFJRwijMWJgvd96LnVNlZhRmAglR3TY0Gi6DsXzXUVB0hlmtZwFUV5ko0YqWi-PCmT3i5fadq64mfiS9sLYuhj8UKLVXpHZeQlQgPQ5JAxEKSuxpbuM09mnLhbm6H12fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee of the Whole approved, on consent, an ordinance designating 541 East Black Avenue as a local historic landmark and heard a presentation from the Historic Sites Commission and the proposed owner about the site's future use.

Bobby, a commissioner with the Historic Sites Commission, summarized the building's local ties and ownership history, including its connection to Marjorie Merriweather Post and the King's Daughters organization. Bobby described the building’s evolution from the Carrie Post King's Daughters Home for Women to Benedictine University dormitory and noted it had been on the market after the university reduced operations.

Yolanda Rice, representing 541 East Black Partners LLC, told the committee her company intends to convert the structure to an extended‑stay facility for traveling nurses and nursing students. Rice said, “We will be providing 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments that would be furnished for extended living from 9 months to 12 months in their objectives to pursue their nursing careers and pursue their nursing education.” She also said the conversion would reduce unit count from 26 efficiencies to 18 one‑ and two‑bedroom units to provide larger living space and address parking concerns.

Nut graf: The landmark designation preserves the building’s exterior and local historic context while allowing a private owner to pursue a reuse that the developer and commissioners said would provide longer‑term housing for health‑care workers near the city’s medical district. City staff said developers have engaged planning, building, fire and other departments and reached out to the Post Foundation about the project.

Council members praised the preservation approach and asked about national designation and rent levels. Rice said the project would initially pursue local landmark status but could consider national designation later and indicated rents would be market rate based on studies and discussions with St. John’s nursing programs.

The ordinance designating 541 East Black Avenue as a historic landmark was placed on the consent agenda and approved. Staff said the owner intends to preserve the exterior facade and proceed with due diligence and building and zoning reviews required for the conversion.

Ending: The designation clears a preservation path while the developer continues design and permitting work; staff and the applicant said they will return to the city for any required approvals as plans develop.","Committee approved landmark designation for 541 East Black Avenue and heard from Historic Sites Commission and the prospective owner, who plans to convert the former King's Daughters home into furnished one‑ and two‑bedroom extended‑stay units targeted to traveling nurses and nursing students.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CWLP seeks council verification to enter MISO expedited queue for 125 MW solar project

Council approves cannabis‑tax allocations; staff outlines outreach for businesses that missed awards

Council designates 541 East Black Ave historic; developer plans extended‑stay units for nurses